Doug Moore

Jet Ice Founder and gifted innovator

Born in Richmond Hill, Ontario in 1931, Doug was gifted with a musical talent and was a natural athlete. As a youngster, he was an exceptional goaltender and was eventually drafted to the Chicago Blackhawks. He also excelled at his studies and chose an engineering career over that of a professional hockey player.

In 1957, he accepted a position with Maple Leaf Gardens working for Harold Ballard, where he eventually earned the title of Chief Engineer in 1974.

Expansion of the National Hockey League in the 1970’s extended the regular season of the Toronto Maple Leafs into late spring. Faced with the challenge of a longer hockey schedule, an antiquated refrigeration plant and adverse conditions, Doug quickly realized that maintaining a high-quality ice surface would require changes in the way an ice surface was made. Thus began Doug’s journey into ice making history.

In the early years, Doug spent many hours at community arenas throughout Ontario assisting operators in perfecting their ice surface. He was heavily involved in working behind the scenes, where hard work is often unrecognized and overlooked. Ultimately, Doug’s success was due to his love of ice sports and kind spirit of sharing his knowledge with others. He encouraged other rink managers through his many seminars and teaching clinics. He willingly and diligently shared his practical knowledge through hands on training and elevated the position of Icemaker to the respectable level of professionalism it enjoys today.

Doug Moore’s contributions to the ice sports world have helped to give the industry the look and quality of ice that is enjoyed today by athletes around the world in the sports of Hockey, Curling and Figure Skating. He was an innovator of the arena industry, specializing in Ice Making Technology, speed-painting procedures and shared his vast skills and knowledge in this science willingly with facility owners, managers and operators throughout North America.

Today, these revolutionary ice making concepts and theories have been implemented in a wide range of community and professional facilities and are considered standard practice throughout the industry.

Career timeline of Canada’s “Ice Man”:

2004- Doug inducted into the Richmond Hill, Ontario Hall of Fame.

2004- The Doug Moore Scholarship Fund was created in his honor based on his belief that any individual can achieve their goals with a little nudge of confidence and encouragement along the way. This Canadian scholarship is dedicated to providing opportunities within the ice making forum for those candidates who are in true need and may not otherwise be able to afford the associated academic costs.

1995- Jet Ice begins to sponsor National and World Curling championships.

1992- Doug founded the Maritimes Arena Operators Institute.

1990- Doug’s ice making expertise was featured on CBC’s “Venture” show, when he was contracted by the Florida Suncoast Dome to supervise the offsite exhibition game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Los Angeles Kings. This event was attended by 25,581 fans, the largest to ever see an NHL game.

1989- In addition to his involvement with the NHL, Doug’s expertise was also renowned in the Figure Skating World. Doug’s services were in demand to oversee numerous events and television spectacles. His most challenging was the creation of a 360,000 square foot maple leaf on Lake Louise in Alberta, Canada for “Skating Free,” starring Brian Orser.

1989- Doug also worked with John D’Amico on a number of Easter Seals projects.

1988- Doug became the first Ice Consultant hired by the National Hockey League.

1988- Jet Ice starts their supplier contract for the 1988 Winter Olympic Games in Calgary, Alberta.

1988- In his willingness to share information, he saw the creation of the Ice Making Technology course; a course attended by 75-100 students annually at the University of Guelph as part of the Ontario Recreation Facilities Association annual professional development program. This course today still serves as one of three that leads to an NHL recognized Certificate Ice Technician’s professional designation. His chapter in the ORFA “Icemakers Bible” is now in its sixth printing.

1987- Doug was responsible for introducing the “ice report” into the NHL. This report was to be used as an internal tool for the referee to communicate the ice conditions, goal frame/gate concerns to the Building Operations Department after each game.

1986- Doug was instrumental in forming the first association of the National Hockey League Facilities, opening the lines of communication between the League and the Building Operations Departments, to discuss and address improving ice quality in each venue.

1980- He used the ice surface at Maple Leaf Gardens to introduce the concept of large format custom logo stencils for in-ice advertising. Today this vehicle allows small arenas and professional venues to have an important source of revenue.

1979- Doug Moore founded Jet Ice Limited where he continued to experiment with other ice paint products and water treatment systems. Jet Ice would eventually become the official supplier of products to the National Hockey League.

1977- While at Maple Leaf Gardens, Doug developed the technique of purifying municipal tap water for ice making and introduced ice re-surfacer additives to improve the ice look and finish. He continued to experiment with ice paints for countless hours to create the right formula specifically designed for reliable use in the ice making industry and sharp enough for television broadcasts.

1961- Doug wrote and recorded “The Leaf Fans Dream” for RCA Victor and donated the entire proceeds to the Ontario Society for Crippled Children. The theories, practices and ice making concepts developed by Doug Moore are now accepted as standard practice by the industry today.

The following are just some of the many testimonials in regards to Doug’s outstanding work in advancing ice making technology:

"I have been struck by the tireless behind the scenes work your father contributed with passion and dedication to the game whether a neutral site game in Sacramento, a regular season game at Madison Square Garden, a Stanley Cup game in Montreal, or at the World Cup of Hockey in Ottawa, your father was there to lend his expertise."

Gary B. Bettman
National Hockey League

"In many places in North America they simply called him the "Ice Man". For he was a genius at making pure water freeze into perfect ice, the ice used by hockey players, skaters and curlers."

Brian McFarlane
One of hockey's best known and most respected historians, broadcaster of Hockey Night in Canada and a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.

"The Advanced Ice Making Technology course developed by Doug Moore, today serves as one of the three that leads to an NHL recognized Certified Ice Technician's professional designation."

John Milton
ED, Ontario Recreation Facilities Association

"Doug Moore spent more days without sleep, finding ways to improve all aspects of ice for everyone and in every area. There wasn't a time, a day or night, that you couldn't get Doug and have him help solve your problem."

Bill Harpole
VP, Operations, Washington Sports

"Doug, thanks for the great ice over the years at Maple Leaf Gardens."

Darryl Sittler
Former Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs

"Mr. Moore's greatest contribution to the lives he touched was getting the facility operators to think for themselves. He was our safety net and reference point when we had a problem. His expertise was outstanding in every aspect of ice usage, including hockey, curling and figure skating."

Fred Corsi Jr.
St. Louis Blues

"As a professional ice skater, we need ice that is fast, and also soft enough to control our edges and our landings."....."I first met Doug Moore and used Jet Ice back in the Calgary Olympics and I was excited. The ice was consistent every time."

Brian Orser
Olympic Figure Skating Champion

"Doug's purified water process assists icemakers in creating "keen" ice with consistent pebble from end to end."